Last call for donations to mall food drive

There are just a few days left to participate in the Flinthills Mall’s annual food drive.

The drive, sponsored by the mall and its parent company Weigand-Omega Management, will continue collecting canned and dry goods through Friday.

“Right now, we have about 40 items that have been donated,” Flinthills Mall Marketing Manager Judy Sage said. “I upped the ante during our ‘Mom’s Night Out’ event [last week] where if you brought in a non-perishable, you would get extra tickets to our giveaways. That’s been the main source, so far, of people bringing food items in.”

Sage said she’s hoping to see some more donations come in through the rest of the week. Collection boxes have been set up around the mall.

“We’re really looking for everything,” she said. “Pastas, rice, peanut butter — anything, really, that can be turned into a quick meal. We’ve gotten a lot of soups and macaroni and cheese or Hamburger Helper than anything else, so far.”

Anyone in doubt of what kind of items to bring can find lists of the most-needed items in food pantries. Some of those items include applesauce, canned meats like tuna, chicken or ham, canned beans, vegetables, cooking oils, herbs and spices and granola bars.

Sage said the food drive is part of Weigand-Omega’s “My Neighbor’s Keeper” initiative, which was founded in 2015.

It’s a nationwide campaign, but all of the food donated at the mall will be distributed to local food pantries.

“Our parent company is keeping tally, so it’s kind of fun to see how everyone’s doing,” Sage said. “We’re really hoping for a last good push for donations.”